DUAL MONITORS

I want to extend my desk top with a second monitor (not for gaming). I intend to find an inexpensive and, hopefully, low power video card for this purpose. If this card has dual output connectors, the two monitors can either (A) both be connected to this card, or, (B) one can be connected to this card and the other to the onboard video adapter. In case (A) is it possible to shut down the onboard video adapter in order to conserve power -- say, by going into the Device Manager and disabling or uninstalling this adapter? Is there any reason why (A) or (B) is the preferred method of connecting the monitors?

Re: DUAL MONITORS

This document note is talking about video cards. Your "B" asked about both a video card and integrated video from the motherboard. Nothing inconsistent. You cannot run integrated video and a add-in video card simultaneously.

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Re: DUAL MONITORS

My interpretation of the Note was based on the assumption that the onboard graphics adapter was also a "video card". Apparently this is incorrect.

If so, is it the case that if I install a PCI video card with only a single VGA port, the onboard adapter is disabled and I will be able to connect only one VGA monitor via the PCI card? If the onboard adapter is disabled does that mean it is using no power?

Thus to use two monitors, I need to install a dual output video card (or two single output cards)? Is the onboard video adapter also disabled/turned-off in this case?

This is not how it worked on my Win XP and Win 98 machines!

My experience on my new Win 7 machine is this: When I installed my old PCI single-VGA output video card, it worked only if I designated it in BIOS as the primary video adapter. The onboard adapter did not work and was not recognized in Device Manager. If I designated the onboard adapter as primary, it worked, but the PCI card did not, although it appeared in the Device Manager list of Display Adapters with a status of "This device cannot start. (Code 10)". Is this what is what I should have expected with WIn 7?

Re: DUAL MONITORS

My interpretation of the Note was based on the assumption that the onboard graphics adapter was also a "video card". Apparently this is incorrect.

If so, is it the case that if I install a PCI video card with only a single VGA port, the onboard adapter is disabled and I will be able to connect only one VGA monitor via the PCI card? If the onboard adapter is disabled does that mean it is using no power?

Thus to use two monitors, I need to install a dual output video card (or two single output cards)? Is the onboard video adapter also disabled/turned-off in this case?

This is not how it worked on my Win XP and Win 98 machines!

My experience on my new Win 7 machine is this: When I installed my old PCI single-VGA output video card, it worked only if I designated it in BIOS as the primary video adapter. The onboard adapter did not work and was not recognized in Device Manager. If I designated the onboard adapter as primary, it worked, but the PCI card did not, although it appeared in the Device Manager list of Display Adapters with a status of "This device cannot start. (Code 10)". Is this what is what I should have expected with WIn 7?

A further question about adequacy of a power supply: What symptom would you expect to see, after installing a video card, if the power supply is inadequate? Prior to buying a card, how does one determine if more power is needed and how much is needed? Video card specs say nothing about their power requirements.